Prologue

Quint dropped his head. "I know them."

Lathum's tone lost some of the edge. "I'm sorry about that, boy. Do you want a replacement?"

"No" Quint straightened and lifted his chin. "I can handle it . . . now."

Lathum walked beside him to their patrol car and picked up a tablet. "Give me some information. What were their names and where do they live. Do they have relatives close?"

"Their last name is Anderson. The driver's name is John - he's the father, and the mother's name is Marie."

Lathum scribbled on the pad, confirming as he wrote. "Driver John Anderson, passenger side wife, Marie Anderson?"

"Yes. The girl is Angela and the boy is Nick . . . Nicholas."

"How old is the girl?"

"Thirteen, I think. The boy just turned six."

"Next of kin?"

"Their oldest daughter, Lisa."

Lathum's pale blue gaze lifted from the tablet and searched Quint's. "How old?"

"Nineteen."

"Girlfriend?"

"I dated her a few times, but she was way out of my league."

Lathum returned his attention to the tablet and snorted. "I doubt that. Not if you judge by the car and their clothes."

Quint knew he should quell the ire that surged up and pounded in his neck. He barely recognized his cold voice as the retort forced its way out. "Well sir, I don't judge people by the clothes on their backs and the cars they drive."